20 #FC琉球

Intro

In the midst of a four game home stand, and coming off one of their most emphatic wins of the season, FC Ryukyu will try and keep the good times rolling when they face Zweigen Kanazawa on Match Day 38. Kanazawa got the better of FC Ryukyu the last time these two sides met thanks to a goal deep in stoppage time by Rodolfo.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VheOn2s4I1A

The win came during one of Kanazawa’s best runs of five games unbeaten, whereas the loss was the third in a row for FC Ryukyu. Zweigen are a shell compared to the team that at one point registered 2 games with 5 goals scored, as they’ve are now one of the worst teams when it comes to conceding. However, FC Ryukyu are only slightly better off in the goals conceded category yet still trail Kanazawa by one total goal scored for the season.

Match Day 37 Recaps

FC Ryukyu vs Tokyo Verdy (4-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qny3bl3PWw0

Zweigen Kanazawa vs Tokushima Vortis (3-4)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxS46TrTcz4

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: Easily their best month this season, FC Ryukyu notched four wins and one draw from the eight games in November. The four wins are impressive as it nearly matched their season win total (6) up to the start of that month. FC Ryukyu’s home form has also been quite good the past five rounds as they are undefeated, winning 4 out of 5, with the lone draw coming against Giravanz Kitakyushu.

The fact is FC Ryukyu navigated a very treacherous slate of games this past month that not only included games against 3 out of the top 4 sides in the table, but also 2 sets of back-to-back road games, with 3 midweek matches. The easing of the fixture list, coupled with 4 out of their remaining 5 games to be played at home, now puts FC Ryukyu in a position to make a nice end of season run.

So will it be Dany or will it be Taguchi this game? Dany seems to have lost his spot to the reserve keeper the past four games for no apparent reason. If there was an injury to Dany, we would never know it, but Higuchi seems to favor the “hot hand” approach as of late. Despite the fact that Taguchi, like Dany the game prior to his demotion, surrendered 3 goals yet Higuchi has stuck with him. You have to believe Dany is the long term answer at GK for FC Ryukyu, so it is best we get him back in there before the season comes to a close.

It will be some combination of Suzuki, Yong Jick, and Okazaki at CB moving forward as Fukui has made way for Okazaki in the reserves. I do not believe Chinen is fit enough to return but Okazaki’s inclusion, along with that of Shinji Ono, Kazuki Yamaguchi, and now Takuya Hitomi, has meant that promising fullback, Makito Uehara’s development, has taken a back seat. This is unfortunate as Uehara needs more games to develop before being thrust into the lineup when relegation is a real possibility in 2021.

We may classify Tanaka and Numata as defenders in the 4-2-3-1 formation that Higuchi deploys, but in all reality, they are wing backs who are more involved in the attack than defense. It works really well when FC Ryukyu controls large swaths of the game, aided by talent we possess in the mid-field, but leaves us very vulnerable at the back when their is an ill-timed, poorly executed challenge from one of our central defenders.

Koizumi was simply unstoppable this past game but I fear the knock he took to his right foot may prevent him from featuring this round. He could be replaced by either Ikeda or Yamaguchi, who will likely be flanked by Koya and Kawai. Uesato and Koki Kazama should take up their normal starting positions at CDM.

It would be nice to see Abe return to the lineup, which would allow Ren Ikeda to drop back to the CAM role in the event Koizumi is out, but if Abe and Shinya Uehara are not match fit, than FC Ryukyu do have a few options. They could start Ren or Hitomi at FWD, and then make a switch to Yamaguchi or Ono later on. Everyone would like to see Shinji Ono score his first ever goal for FC Ryukyu, and this game presents one of the best, last, chances to do just that.

Zweigen Kanazawa: We’ve been on a poor run for most of the last two months, with some occasional flashes of good play.

In the attack, we don’t really have any big worries as indicated by our goal scoring record. Mutsuki Kato is edging towards the Zweigen single-season goal record of 16 – currently sitting on 13 – and Towa Yamane has been doing quite well up front after missing the first half of the season. Rodolfo and Taiki Watanabe have formed a nice combination down the left side of our attack as well.

Our problems are mainly at the back. We have a terrible goals against record, and we conceded 4 goals in a game 4 times in the month of November. Center Back, Ryoga Ishio, has played every minute of every game and taken several knocks to the head along the way. He clearly needs a rest, despite being a very good defender, because his form has dropped off compared to the high standards he set early in the season.

The manager, Masaaki Yanagishita, seems to be trying out different combinations and players in different positions with an eye on next season. He seems to have a prominent role in mind for midfielder Toshiya Motozuka.

The main player to watch tomorrow is Yota Shimokawa, who has been by far our best player this season. He can play left, or right, wing/back, and has even had a go in the central midfield spots. He is deadly accurately with either foot on crosses, and also leads the team in assists. If he’s in the lineup tomorrow, expect most of our attacks to funnel through him.

Even though we lost 4-3 to Tokushima this past match. Our comeback from down 0-3, to level at 3-3, versus arguably the best side in J2 right now, provides some hope that we maybe able to end this current slump, and finish the season on a high note.

Thanks again to our man over at @Kanazawadreamin for putting this Zweigen Kanazawa preview together for us on such short notice.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Possess and Press: Likelihood 4. Kanazawa are hemorrhaging goals at the moment whereas FC Ryukyu are coming off one of their largest wins to date. If FC Ryukyu can play their preferred, possession based style of football, they should have ample opportunities to score on Wednesday. The slight worry is that FC Ryukyu will be without their top playmakers in Koizumi and Abe. But they still have enough firepower in Koya, Kawai and Tanaka to light up the scoreboard.

2. Get Koya Firing Again. Likelihood 4. The veteran was in fine form just a few matches ago, but the combination of some easy misses and bad luck may have caused a slight drop in confidence. It is just one of things that players go through from time to time, and Koya is in the midst of an unlucky stretch right now. He missed a chance to put FC Ryukyu up early last week before having another shot saved from point blank range. He has formed a nice partnership with Keita Tanaka this year, and it was working well the last time these two sides met, so hopefully Tanaka can spring Koya for a goal in order regain some of the confidence that was lost the past few weeks.

Match Prediction

@Kanazawadreamin outlined the fact that Zweigen conceded 4 goals inside of 4 games this month. Maybe FC Ryukyu don’t have all the pieces to make this a convincing victory on Wednesday, but I think they have enough to push the score line to 2-1 for the win.

Match Day 38 in J2

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

This pressure to close out the promotion race seems to be increasing each game. Match Day 38 presents the best, and possibly only, remaining chance for (2) Avispa Fukuoka and (3) V-Varen Nagasaki to make up some ground on leaders (1) Tokushima Vortis. Vortis host (4) Giravanz Kitakyushu in the premier matchup this round as both Fukuoka, traveling to (15) Fagiano Okayama, and Nagasaki, traveling to (10) Kyoto Sanga FC, have easier matchups on paper.

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2019

Nagasaki has the toughest remaining schedule of the top 3 as they will face Kyoto, Yamagata, Verdy, and Kofu before the final match day. Fukuoka has the easiest schedule of anyone and Vortis may have the league wrapped up by Match Day 40. While the final game looms large for both Avispa and Nagasaki, Vortis may rest some players ahead of their Emperor’s Cup match if they win the league, thus allowing Fukuoka a cake walk into the J1.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ET7txLk0vM

Conclusion

Just your typical, end of the year, teams at the bottom of the table, tilt tomorrow. Both sides have experienced their fair share of ups and downs this year while looking nearly equal on paper heading into this one. A slight advantage is afforded to FC Ryukyu as they are at home on the short week, but they could be devoid of much of their playmaking ability due to injury.

Still, being undefeated at home with 4 wins out of 5, and 10 goals scored compared to only 2 conceded in that time, it sure is good to be “home sweet home.”

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmrh42foUsg

Nothing to it, but to do it boys!

“If You Want it Now, Then Here it Comes” Match Day 37 Preview: (19) FC Ryukyu vs (8) Tokyo Verdy 11/29/20 #FC琉球

Intro

As you may already know, FC Ryukyu have no true rival in any of the tiers of the J-League. They are far removed from the other teams on mainland so they don’t even have a true derby match to look forward to each season. If anything, we have to manufacture our disdain and hate, perceived or real, for other clubs around the league.

Well there is no better team to start than with like Tokyo Verdy. The history between these clubs is not long, each has gone 1-1-1- against their opponent, but the wins have always been for the visiting side. The first time these two sides met back in early 2019, it was Uesato who scored a very late equalizer deep in stoppage time for the only draw on record. That match also featured a bloody and broken Dany Carvajal saving a crucial PK to keep the game within reach for Ryukyu. Verdy repaid that transgression by eviscerating FC Ryukyu 5-1 in front of their home crowd later that year with Junki Koike bagging a hat trick for the visitors. Verdy even made T-Shirts to commemorate such a momentous occasion in their otherwise flaccid 2019 season.

Then there were the fireworks on Match Day 10 this year. FC Ryukyu once again looked like the stronger side, and had several chances to grab the lead, but it wasn’t until Shohei Takahashi opted to kick Shinya Uehara in the abdomen after a contested ball in the air that saw both players land on top of one another. It was uncalled for, stupid, and a dangerous play in which Takahashi was lucky to leave the match with just a Yellow Card.

But it didn’t end there. Uehara was fouled in the 82′ and the Tokyo Verdy players proceeded to go on an 8 minute tirade against the officials, which included some very ugly scenes for the J-League as a whole, before Abe stepped up and slotted the PK home for the decisive victory.

So with the recent history of these two teams in mind, plus the facts that Verdy may feel they have some unfinished business to attend to, as well as FC Ryukyu wanting to settle some scores for that foul, this should be testy affair on Sunday afternoon.

Last Round Highlights for Each Team

Match Day 36: FC Ryukyu vs Jubilo Iwata (0-3)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaF0pdK1qog

Match Day 36: Tokyo Verdy vs Avispa Fukuoka (1-1)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssjnlEi_ObQ

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: There are more questions than answers heading into Match Day 37 for FC Ryukyu. For example: (1) What is the health status of both Takuma Abe and Shinya Uehara? (2) What has prompted the move away from Dany Carvajal to Junto Taguchi at Goal Keeper the past 3 rounds?

Since these questions are almost never asked, or answered, it is anyone’s guess. Let’s assume that Uehara is dealing with some minor injury, and that Abe is need of some veteran rest as he played in nearly every match for FC Ryukyu up to a few weeks ago. But, as we’ve seen the past few games, when FC Ryukyu lack a true striker up top in Higuchi’s 4-2-3-1 formation, the goals dry up quickly.

I said last week that FC Ryukyu needed to get a longer look at some players they want to consider resigning next year, and that has happened to a degree, but I also want this side to remain competitive – especially at home – as no one wants to see this side finish poorly to end 2020.

Match Day 36 featured the return of several players to the FC Ryukyu lineup. Yamaguchi made a return after two months away and Okazaki made his 2020 debut after battling several injuries this year. Okazaki’s return helps with Suzuki and Chinen’s absence from the lineup but I don’t think we should get to excited. Okazaki struggled mightily last season and the thought of his pairing together with Yong Jick in a competitive match is very worrisome.

There are some encouraging signs despite the goal draught and shaky defense for this team. Koizumi has been in top form and is playing himself into a bigger club contract next season. He is a mercurial talent that will need to leave this club to reach his full potential and I hope it isn’t in the footsteps of Nakagawa and Uejo, who struggled a bit with their new clubs.

Keita Tanaka, Koya Kazama, and Kazumasa Uesato are the anchors for this team and will need to pick this team up off the floor and bring them back to their winning ways on Sunday. Finally, maybe this will be the game that Shinji Ono finally gets that first FC Ryukyu goal. I couldn’t think of a better time and lets just hope it is in a winning effort, and not a losing one.

Tokyo Verdy: After their loss to FC Ryukyu, Verdy recovered nicely by winning 3 in a row, and 4 out of 5 games that brought them just inside the top half of the table. A spot they have occupied for much of the season. The highest position Verdy has achieved this season is 5th, with most of the time spent bobbing up and down between 7th and 11th.

Verdy’s longest winless streak occurred between Match Days 27 and 32 when they went 6 games without a win. Since then, they are undefeated, winning 3 out of their last 4 games. The most impressive win in this stretch came against Kyoto Sanga FC followed by Verdy easily dispatching Thespakusatsu Gunma and Renofa Yamaguchi. In their most recent game, Verdy drew 1 all with second place Avispa Fukuoka when they surrendered an own goal shortly after taking the lead.

The side-by-side comparison table indicates that Verdy are a slightly better on the road compared to playing at home but both these sides possess an identical record for home and away form over their last 5 games. Verdy are led up front by Junki Koike, Yuhei Sato, Ryoya Yamashita, Shion Inoue and Jin Hanato who added two goals to his tally the round prior.

There is not much more I can say about this squad other than they are good, but not great. Very indicative of a mid table team that is going nowhere, but certainly a place we as FC Ryukyu fans would relish at this point.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Play Mistake Free Football (or close to it): Likelihood 2. Verdy are a patient team that can bide their time until their opponent makes a few mistakes. Then they punish them. The games against Renofa and Gunma are the closest comps when it comes to how this matchup may play out with Verdy demolishing those lesser sides when they broke down. Verdy are not immune from their own mistakes, but FC Ryukyu need to make less of the catastrophic mistakes on Sunday if they wish to win.

2. A Healthy Strike Duo of Abe and Uehara: Likelihood 2. It is anyone’s guess if they even dress, but Abe was able to break out of the high press by Verdy the last time they played, which really opened up the offense for FC Ryukyu. Uehara also adds the aerial assault and nose for the goal that FC Ryukyu so desperately need right now. If neither is featured on Sunday, I fear we will see a repeat of the last few matches were FC Ryukyu may possess the ball in the middle third of the pitch, but have no way of making the final push on goal.

Match Day Prediction

FC Ryukyu have seen their goals dry up whereas Verdy are surging ever so slightly by swatting inferior competition to the side. But, this game isn’t played on paper, and emotions could be running high on Sunday so I’ll say this ends 1-1 in a rather inglorious fashion. Joking. 2-1 to FC Ryukyu!!!!!!

Match Day 37 in J2

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j2-league/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

(1) Tokushima Vortis and (2) Avispa Fukuoka both face sides in the bottom half of the table and will look to hold serve this week when (3) V-Varen Nagasaki host (6) Albirex Niigata in what should be considered a must win game for Nagasaki if they wish to remain in striking distance of Fukuoka for 2nd place.

Not one, but two free broadcasts this round! The first one looks enticing and I will be tuning in, along with a few friends, to see if Nagasaki can get the job done.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ruou4VQHc

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGe1-KwVANU

Conclusion

Just a little over three weeks left in the season and FC Ryukyu currently sit at 3-1-3 in the month of November with one more game to go. They close the book on this month at home, which is also the start of 4 consecutive home games for Ryukyu, so hopefully this provides some rest to these weary road warriors.

Verdy have nowhere to go this year as they are to far outside of the promotion zone but would love nothing more than to embarrass FC Ryukyu in front of their fans again. All the makings to a start of a great rivalry. And I say, “if it is blood you want, we’ll give you some.”

I need Soldiers. Too Arms!

“This Ain’t No Fooling Around. ” Match Day 36 Preview: (11) Jubilo Iwata vs (19) FC Ryukyu 11/25/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Only two away games remain for FC Ryukyu this year with finally a bit of let up in the schedule. FC Ryukyu will face off against Jubilo Iwata on Wednesday night, a team that has slowly tumbled down the table after the half way point of the season. These two sides have only ever faced each other on one other occasion, the 2-2 draw at Ryukyu on Match Day 8, in which FC Ryukyu surrendered their one goal lead twice.

Match Day 35 Highlights: FC Ryukyu vs Giravanz Kitakyushu (1-1)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvr5ljbf8cc

Match Day 35 Highlights: Jubilo Iwata vs Ventforet Kofu (1-1)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YKBlcsUnI

Team Previews

Jubilo Iwata: This is not the type of season that Iwata was hoping for in their attempt to quickly rebound back into the J1. In fact, there are some similarities between these two sides when it comes to their overall performance this year. Both FC Ryukyu and Jubilo have endured a stretch of 8 games without a win. Each side has been ravaged by injuries but it is Iwata who currently has 7 players, including their leading scorer and 3 on the COVID-19 list, sidelined as of today.

Since the halfway mark of the 2020 season, FC Ryukyu has earned 20 points compared to Iwata’s 19, but FC Ryukyu have two more wins (6) than Iwata (4). If nothing else, Iwata has experienced some of the worst luck I’ve ever seen in the 5 matches I reviewed. They must have hit the post nearly a dozen times and simply couldn’t catch a break on either side of the ball.

Iwata are winless in their last 5 games going 0-4-1. They were eviscerated by Tokushima Vortis (3-1) due in large part to a woeful performance on defense from the two center backs. Iwata managed to rescue two consecutive draws against Ehime FC and Albirex Niigata thanks to some late equalizers. But the bad defending, and bad luck, continued for Jubilo over their next two games.

Jubilo ended this five game stretch with another set of 1-1 draws against Fagiano Okayama and Ventforet Kofu. The lone goal they surrendered against Kofu on Match Day 35 really typified their bad luck as it was an own goal, stemming from what looked more like a rugby scrum than football, on a deflected shot.

Despite the poor run of form, Iwata still possess a good record when playing at home. They are unbeaten in their last 6 home games, with having lost only once in their past 10. They also outscored their opponents 2 to 1 during that run. FC Ryukyu enter a point in their season where they will only face teams with nothing more than pride left to play for. Nothing is more important to these sides than earning wins in front of their home crowd, or winning on the road in front of ours before the season comes to a close.

Previous Match between FC Ryukyu and Jubilo Iwata 7/29/2020
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpJP3lGiE34

FC Ryukyu: The biggest question on everyone’s mind these days is; what has happened to the offense? Ryukyu have only managed 4 goals in their last 5 games compared to the 8 they scored in their 5 games prior. The system Higuchi employs is predicated on attacking, possession based, football and is one we’ve all grown accustomed to over the past two years (and one we will continue to see in 2021 with his recent extension). If we cannot get the offense going, then we are in real trouble down here.

The remainder of this season should be focused on player evaluations heading into the 2021 offseason. This means getting longer looks at some of the youth players as well as those “fringe” players this team may wish to renew their contract before next year. FC Ryukyu opted for more veteran experience this year compared to the youth movement we had in 2019 and it has been a mixed bag of results. The aim is always promotion, but that seems a long way off for this squad at the moment.

This is FC Ryukyu’s second to last away game for 2020 but not the last time they will need to travel in the midweek. Luckily the weather is favorable for this one so that shouldn’t be much of a factor. However, fatigue and lack of goals could make this an arduous trip for the boys from Okinawa.

FC Ryukyu will need to see the continuation of strong play from Koizumi as well as a return to the starting CDM position for their captain, Uesato, to right this ship. This game should favor the attacking style of FC Ryukyu and is one in which Abe should be able to get back on the score sheet. In fact, if things break right, FC Ryukyu could bust out in a big way on Wednesday.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Exploit the space in the central defense of Iwata. Likelihood 4. This game sets up well for Koizumi and Abe to punish the two center backs of Iwata. Iwata’s defense has been torn to shreds of late and the casual viewer will notice the acres of space that exists in the Iwata defense on a daily basis. Abe has the skill to create space, with Koizumi able to unlock defenses with phenomenal weighted passes to his attackers. These two, barring the final lineup decision by Higuchi, should feature heavily in the Ryukyu attack tomorrow.

2. Do not give any hope to a team that is down on their luck. Likelihood 3. Every shot that has hit the post, bounced of a defender, narrowly missed, coupled with those that seem to break just right for the opposition, have taken their toll on the overall morale for Iwata. They are riddled with injuries and suffer from defensive break downs at the back which makes them ripe for the picking. Do not allow this side to gain any semblance of confidence by finishing off attacks with goals, and preventing the lackluster Iwata attack from scoring.

Match Day Prediction

I am quite terrible at these, and FC Ryukyu always seem to lose whenever I favor them so I am hesitant to do so. But, perseverance pays off in the end right? 3-1 to FC Ryukyu this round.

Match Day 36 in J2

(2) Avispa Fukuoka has the toughest draw among the top three sides this round as they will travel to (7) Tokyo Verdy. (1) Tokushima Vortis host (18) Machida Zelvia and (3) V-Varen Nagasaki welcome in (17) Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. Anything short of a win by Fukuoka will allow Nagasaki to get within 1 point, that is, assuming Nagasaki can win their match this round.

Conclusion

Only seven games remain for FC Ryukyu to match their 2019 totals of 13 wins, and 49 points. Ryukyu have drastically reduced their overall number of goals surrendered from 2019 (54 compared to 80 with 7 games to go) and they are just 12 goals shy from matching the total goals scored in 2019 (45 to 57). So far, it looks like FC Ryukyu have made some strides in their second year in J2, but they did not take the major leap forward they might have expected.

With both these teams continuing down the long road to nowhere in 2020, let’s see FC Ryukyu inflict a bit of scorched earth by burning the Yamaha stadium to the ground with an impressive multiple goal victory. Welcome to “Life During Wartime J2”.

“The Kobayashi Maru” Match Day 35 Preview: (18) FC Ryukyu vs (4) Giravanz Kitakyushu 11/21/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Surprise winners this past round, FC Ryukyu will look to extract some revenge from the 4-0 drubbing they suffered at the hands of Kitakyushu back on match day three. That win for Kitakyushu ignited an impressive run that brought them to the pinnacle of the table as they jumped 17 spots in a matter of weeks. However, Giravanz couldn’t maintain their grasp on the lead and have slowly tumbled out of the promotion conversation. They will look to get back into that conversation quickly this week with a win over FC Ryukyu.

Match Day 34 Highlights: FC Ryukyu v V-Varen Nagasaki (1-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_xxIZfkkR0

Match Day 34 Highlights: Giravanz Kitakyushu v Tochigi SC (1-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuVox4p7BMQ

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: FC Ryukyu carry a 3-game home unbeaten streak into this match with an overall record of 5 wins, and 5 losses, in their past 10 games. It seems odd that FC Ryukyu haven’t drawn a match in over 10 weeks and I wouldn’t expect one this round either.

With a full five days rest in between fixtures, I would expect FC Ryukyu to field one of their stronger sides on Saturday. Abe will hopefully lead the line while looking to add to his 13-goal tally. Behind him should be the combination of Kawai, Koya, Koizumi, Uesato and Koki. In defense, it is likely that Tanaka can return to his fulltime role at RB, with Numata on the left. I am not sure of the CB pairing though as Higuchi has rotated Suzuki and Yong Jick for Fukui the past few rounds. And this is definitely a match for Dany Carvajal to return to the lineup.

With only 8 games left in the 2020 season, and not much left to play for other than pride and a 2021 contract, I’d like to see some of the players who couldn’t quite get it going this year, generate some momentum heading into the 2021 offseason. It was nice to see Kawai back on the score sheet this past week as he has yet to really string together strong performances this year. Motegi is another name that needs a boost in confidence as he was one of our marquee signings this past offseason, but has yet to reach his full potential here in Okinawa.

Giravanz Kitakyushu: Kitakyushu’s fall from the top began back on match day 21 with a 3-0 loss at home to Mito Hollyhock. They then went on a 9-game winless streak that dropped them to 4th in the table before finally earning a victory on the road at Zweigen Kanazawa.

I am not quite sure what caused the massive drop off in goals scored for this side as they were averaging around 2 goals scored each game before the Mito loss. But Giravanz has seemed to fix that problem with 9 goals scored in their last 5 games. Just in time too, as they will look to embark on an end of season run to the #2 slot in J2 with a very favorable schedule outside of a tilt with leaders Tokushima Vortis.

Disaro, Takahashi, and Machino lead the attack for Giravanz and they are a formidable front line. Giravanz a very persistent side despite some of the recent set backs that has dropped them out of the promotion race as they can press hard for goals and rarely tire. They bided their time against Tochigi this past week, earned a win, and absolutely hammered Ehime before that. Though their away record has been poor the last 5 rounds, that was mainly due to facing some of the tougher teams in J2.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Prevent short counter-attacks. Likelihood 2. Though I’d like to believe FC Ryukyu will control the pace and possession of this game, I also thought the same thing when these two teams faced off earlier this year where Kitakyushu dominated the possession and chances. FC Ryukyu cannot afford to turn the ball over in our own end tomorrow. Unfortunately, Ryukyu are very prone to doing just that. Turnovers will allow Giravanz to strike quickly by stretching our defense which could lead to large goal deficits. Yong Jick is notorious for giving the ball away at inopportune times so limiting his touches tomorrow is key.

2. Slow the pace of the game down to a crawl. Likelihood 3. Giravanz have the ability to light up the scoreboard and they seem to be getting back to their free scoring ways. FC Ryukyu, unlike the first time these two teams played, need to maintain large spells of possession and force Kitakyushu into making some mental mistakes out of frustration. If the game maintains a frenetic pace, then Kitakyushu will hurt them on the break. If FC Ryukyu can bide their time, blunt the initial Kitakyushu onslaught, and create some chances of their own, they could pull out the win.

Match Day 35 Prediction

FC Ryukyu will need to approach this game much like they did against Nagasaki. Giravanz absolutely shredded our defense the last time out so this could easily turn into a shootout on Saturday. 3-2 to Giravanz.

Match Day 35 in J2

Both (1) Tokushima Vortis, and (2) Avispa Fukuoka, face some stiff tests this week as they face (10) Kyoto Sanga FC and (7) Montedio Yamagata. Perhaps this a chance for (3) V-Varen Nagasaki to make up some ground on the leaders when they travel to face (15) JEF UTD Chiba.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOjGyxe66B8

Conclusion

Seeing how Giravanz has the slightest chance at promotion this year, it would be nice to see FC Ryukyu derail another side’s aspirations before closing out their 2020 campaign. But this will be no easy task. In fact, it represents another “no-win situation” for FC Ryukyu. Much like name of the Giravanz Kitakyushu manager, and scenario made famous by the Star Trek films, the Kobayashi Maru for Higuchi and the boys will be a tough one tomorrow.

Match Day 33 Preview: (2) Avispa Fukuoka vs (18) FC Ryukyu 11/11/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu enter a brutal stretch of games where they face the number 2, 3, and 6th team in the table over their next 3 games. First up is Avispa Fukuoka. FC Ryukyu have achieved some nice results against Avispa Fukuoka in their history but Avispa, of course, will be looking to rebound from their recent loss to Matsumoto Yamaga FC in order to maintain their automatic promotion spot from the J2.

Match Day 32: Avispa Fukuoka v Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. (0-1)

Match Day 32: FC Ryukyu v Renofa Yamaguchi FC (1-0)

Team Previews

Avispa Fukuoka: There may be some cracks emerging in the Fukuoka side that went undefeated during the months of September and October as Avispa have lost 2 out of their last 3 games. While Fukuoka possess the best record for goals against (23), 1 above Tochigi SC, they have a below average goals scored record (36). They sit just one slot above 17th JEF UTD Chiba, and 22nd Renofa Yamaguchi FC in that category.

It is hard to find fault with a side that has shutout their opponent 16 times this year, good for a 50% mark, but the knock on Fukuoka is definitely their ability to score goals. Their two leading goal scorers, Tono and Delgado, seem very streaky when it comes to finding the back of the net. Meaning, they can go long spells without scoring a goal before stringing together a few games with multiple goals.

As mentioned earlier, Avispa Fukuoka are very stout in defense and are anchored by arguably one of the best goal keepers in the J-League in Serantes. Serantes missed all of October to an injury (I assume) but has returned for their last two games. Salomonsson looks to be Fukuoka’s most creative player with 8 assists, though he only has one goal to his name this year. He is very lethal from the dead ball spot and is someone to watch out for on Wednesday.

Fukuoka went 2-1-2 in their past 5 games. They defeated Chiba and Mito, drew with Zelvia, and lost to Iwata and Matsumoto. In those five games, Avispa had an equal 3 goals scored, 3 goals conceded while registering 3 shutouts. It was difficult to draw any conclusion from the highlights as to what constitutes the Fukuoka game plan other than they look to start fast, grab a lead, before putting up a formidable defense. And they seem very comfortable in doing just that.

FC Ryukyu: Winners of 3 out of their last 5, FC Ryukyu will look to continue their successful trend against Fukuoka on Wednesday. FC Ryukyu rested some key players this past weekend and I hope that is due to necessity rather than injury.

Leading scorer Abe, a major part of the FC Ryukyu offense, will look to increase his goal tally of 13 tomorrow with the help of Koizumi, Koya and Motegi up top. It has been quite some time since we’ve seen the four of them in the lineup at one time and it looks as if Motegi is finally getting over the effects from CV19.

In defense, it is anyone’s guess as to who will be lining up at CB with Chinen likely out for the year, and Yong Jick sent to the bench last week.

What is certain though, is that Dany Carvajal is playing some of his best football to date and looks to be over the lingering ankle injury that cost him much of 2019. If there is one thing I know about sports injuries; it’s that, it takes more time to recover mentally than physically. Trusting your body to do what it did pre-injury is no easy task. It often requires small gains in confidence in order to reach optimal performance. We are finally seeing the Dany of early 2019 and it is great to know we have locked him up on a long term deal through 2022.

FC Ryukyu have the better record of these two sides but that is only counting games the past 2 seasons. Last year, Fukuoka were adrift when FC Ryukyu defeated them for only their second road game victory of 2019 in the late fall. This is a very different situation now as Fukuoka sit atop of the table with FC Ryukyu middling at the bottom.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Withstand the early barrage. Likelihood 2. Over the course of their last 5 matches, Avispa Fukuoka display a penchant of creating chances and scoring goals inside the opening 30 minutes of games. FC Ryukyu must weather that storm by preventing an early goal from Fukuoka if they wish to prevent the inevitable “parking the bus” from Fukuoka.

2. Grab the early lead with a strong lineup selection. Likelihood 1. It should be: Abe, Koya, Ikeda, Motegi, Koizumi, Uesato, Tanaka, Numata, Suzuki, Fukui, and Dany tomorrow. I think FC Ryukyu should amass as much firepower as they can in order to grab an early lead. This should force Fukuoka into more of an attacking role, something they may not be accustomed to executing. How else will we unlock such a stout defense unless we force their hand by pressing for a goal when they are behind?

Match Day 33 Prediction

Neither side has lit up the scoreboard as of late so this sets up as a low scoring game. Since FC Ryukyu’s 3 goal outburst against Omiya Ardija, they have failed to score a goal from open play in the last 2 matches. Fukuoka on the other hand, have only scored 3 goals in the past 6 games.

This could easily end 1-0 in favor of Avispa Fukuoka because they have the defense to keep FC Ryukyu off the scoreboard.

Match Day 33 in J2

A mere 5 points separate the top 3 sides in J2 with current leaders (1) Tokushima Vortis, trying to maintain their grip on the pole position when they host (8) Tochigi SC this round. Meanwhile, (3) V-Varen Nagasaki will be rooting for a (2) Fukuoka slip up against FC Ryukyu, plus a win of their own, when they host (11) Fagiano Okayama.

(4) Albirex Niigata may have the toughest draw this round as they travel to (10) Jubilo Iwata who beat them 3-1 in the previous leg. Niigata can ill afford to drop any points this round as they have a nice stretch of winnable games before clashing with V-Varen Nagasaki at the end of the month. (5) Ventforet Kofu is in a similar situation as Niigata as they will need to earn a win over visiting (12) Mito Hollyhock, who drew with the hosts the last time they played, due to a much tougher slate of games this month for a team that is 10 points outside of promotion.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MFWSUi0zlQ&pbjreload=101

Conclusion

Avispa Fukuoka has a long history of never being crowned in any national competition here in Japan. Thus, making them the “Kings of Nothing.” So…………………………..

“Lightning Quick” Match Day 32 Preview: (18) FC Ryukyu vs. (21) Renofa Yamaguchi FC 11/8/2020 #FC琉球

Intro

Get your drinks chilled and your snacks ready because this should be an exciting, fast paced, goal scoring match this Sunday. FC Ryukyu and Renofa Yamaguchi FC represent 2 of the 3 teams that have conceded at least 50 goals this season and in the previous 7 times these teams have faced each other since 2015, there have been 29 goals scored. In fact, there is only 1 match in which there was less than 3 total goals.

Match Day 31 Recap: FC Ryukyu vs Ventforet Kofu (0-1)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmjubrtPJr8

Match Day 31 Recap: Renofa Yamaguchi FC vs Thespakusatsu Gunma (1-1)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHz1A2J1H_Q

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: Ryukyu sit 9 points and 4 wins away from matching their season total of 2019. You always want to see improvement from year to year, though sometimes it doesn’t happen, but for FC Ryukyu it is important that we make some headway heading into 2021. FC Ryukyu will need to win 4 out of their remaining 11 games to match that total from 2019 and there is no better way to start than by defeating an inferior opponent at home who has one of the worst away records in J2.

When FC Ryukyu were blanked by Kofu in the mid-week, FC Ryukyu had very little thrust and momentum until the last 15 minutes of the match after the introduction of some substitutes. Koizumi has only been used as a sub the past two matches and hopefully he cracks the starting 11 this round as he is our best playmaker in the squad. Abe could possibly make way for Uehara since he has started nearly every match for FC Ryukyu this year with his lone substitute appearance coming against V-Varen Nagasaki back in July. It makes the most sense to start Abe in an attempt to get out in front against Renofa as Ryukyu will face 2 of the top 3 sides after Renofa.

FC Ryukyu’s midfield has seen numerous changes to the starting 11 over the course of this season and the only one that seems to be in top form is Koya Kazama. He was left off the score sheet last round and will look to get back to his scoring ways this week. Ren Ikeda has been starting in place of Koizumi at CAM and it is probably time to reintroduce Koizumi to the starting lineup on Sunday to drive the attack. The same could be said about replacing Kawai with Motegi as Kawai has struggled to regain his 2019 form and we could use Motegi’s skill on more set pieces.

Uesato has been a constant in the CM this year with is usually partners of Koki Kazama or Mizuki Ichimaru but has also seen Koizumi in that role on occasion. If Ryukyu want to maximize their firepower on Sunday, Koizumi starting in place of either of Koki or Ichimaru, while leaving Ikeda up top, would be ideal. In fact, some of our best games featured that exact lineup.

In defense, it is likely we’ll see a pairing of Yong Jick with either Suzuki or Chinen, though Chinen didn’t make the trip to Kofu this past round. I could also see Numata returning to his starting LB role with Makito Uehara making the start at RB before making way for Tanaka in the second half.

Defense has been an issue for FC Ryukyu this year so all we can do now is simply hold on for the finish line before addressing the issue in the offseason winter transfer market.

Renofa Yamaguchi FC: Renofa have been hanging around the bottom of the table since Match Day 7 when they lost to Kitakyushu on the road 0-2. The best stretch of games this team experienced was between matches 20 and 24 when they went 3-1-1 with wins over Tokyo Verdy, JEF UTD Chiba, and Jubilo Iwata while drawing against Ehime FC. That stretch represents 1/3 of the total points accumulated this season for Renofa.

In the most recent stretch of games for Renofa, they have gone 1-1-3 with the lone victory coming in a very impressive performance against Kyoto Sanga FC on the road. But after that game, Renofa did not look like the same team that earned that win. Yamaguchi were outscored 9-2 and registered three straight losses to Tokushima Vortis, Mito Hollyhock, and Montedio Yamagata. They righted the ship slightly this past Wednesday when they drew with Gunma, but that was a game they should have won had it not been for a late goal (86′).

I am not quite sure which Renofa team we will see this Sunday as they can play well at times but for the most part, they are where they are in the table for a reason. Against teams around them, or near them, in the bottom of the J2 table, Renofa are 1-3-3 with the lone win coming against FC Ryukyu. But Yamaguchi are an even 1D-1L against Ehime FC, Gunma, and Matsumoto Yamaga FC in 2020.

The one positive for Renofa heading into Sunday is the fact that they possess a great record against FC Ryukyu. They have only lost once in their prior 7 matches dating back to 2015. While the games against Gunma and Matsumoto may provide a road map for how this game will shape up, I think FC Ryukyu will severely test the back line of Renofa.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Speed. Likelihood 4. The Renofa back line was getting run ragged by the opposition in the 5 Renofa games that I watched. Either Renofa play a rather high back line or they simply lack the pace to keep up with the opposition’s forwards and attacking midfielders. You might think this is a potential break out spot for Kawai, but I think Abe is in the best spot to get around and past the Renofa defenders on quick breaks.

2. Exploit the open space in the Mid Field. Likelihood 4. FC Ryukyu can really control the pace of the game with large amounts of possession and with Renofa likely setting up in a 4-3-3, there will be some large gaps in the middle part of the field to exploit. If Ryukyu can quickly transition from defense into offense, and get the ball into their midfield playmakers, they could find some wide-open running lanes on Sunday. Koizumi would be the top choice here as his playmaking skills could really unlock the Renofa defense.

3. Defend the crosses into the box. Likelihood 2. Renofa are one of the league leaders when it comes to sending crosses into the box from the flanks. They seem to lack any midfield creativity and prefer to attack their opponents on short attacks on either side with a cross into Iury. FC Ryukyu need to prevent the Renofa wingers/outside midfielders from getting past them to choke out the Renofa offense. I fear that if Ryukyu do not do this successfully, Iury will find plenty of space in between our central defenders and have many clean looks on goal.

Match Day 32 Prediction

In their first meeting this season, FC Ryukyu drew first blood from an early goal by Motegi and then completely fell apart as Renofa scored four goals to win 4-1. Since neither side defends particularly well – Renofa dead last in goals allowed and FC Ryukyu are 3rd worst- means this should end with a large goal tally. I believe FC Ryukyu will take this one 4-2.

Match Day 32 in J2

(5) Albirex Niigata hosting (4) Giravanz Kitakyushu is the marquee match up with so much at stake for both sides. The next best game could be the (1) Tokushima Vortis vs (11) Tokyo Verdy with the international community enjoying the last game of this round.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-MiuF2BrCg

Conclusion

The forecast for the game is calling for rain and thunderstorms all day so I am not sure if there will be lengthy delays due to weather. What I am sure of though, is that this were be several “Lightning Quick” moments by both sides on Sunday since neither defends well, and both teams have a penchant for taking numerous shots.

I truly believe that FC Ryukyu are the stronger side, but the past record of Renofa against Ryukyu indicates this is yet another team that FC Ryukyu will struggle with in any competition. In any event, tune in to the lone 1600 match of the day for the J-League on Sunday for what should be a back and forth game, weather permitting.

Come on Boys!

“Head Games” Match Day 31 Preview: (6) Ventforet Kofu vs. (18) FC Ryukyu 11/4/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Here we are once again, nearly a full year removed, from FC Ryukyu trying to derail Ventforet Kofu’s promotion dreams once more. The last time FC Ryukyu tried to accomplish this feat, we had to do so with a severely depleted squad after having already secured our place in the table safe from relegation and ended up losing 2-0. But things are a little different these days. Kofu do not possess nearly the same firepower they had last year when Utaka was leading the line. FC Ryukyu have retained the services of many of their quality players, who for the most part, are relatively healthy and match fit. And then there is rigors of the reshuffling of the schedule due to CV19. I take no joy in playing the role of spoiler, as I’d much rather be looking down at teams in the table, but you make the best of what you got.

Match Day 30 Recap: Ventforet Kofu vs Tochigi SC (0-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQsjfb1nVM

Match Day 30 Recap: FC Ryukyu vs Omiya Ardija (3-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbt-yVbtPhA

Team Previews

Ventforet Kofu: Kofu enter match day 31 having won 3 out of their previous 5 games that included victories over Kitakyushu, Tokushima and Zelvia. Their only loss came at the hands of Gunma while they played to a 0-0 draw against Tochigi SC this past weekend. Kofu are rounding into form at just the right time after having suffered a winless spell of 7 games during the months of September and October. They will need to continue their strong play as they currently sit 13 points outside of the top two promotion spots, but the upcoming schedule sets up well for Kofu.

Over the next four rounds, Kofu will play teams in the bottom half of the table starting with FC Ryukyu this Wednesday followed by Omiya, Mito and then Ehime before facing Iwata, Kyoto and Yamagata in quick succession this month. 12 points from these next four games would provide a massive boost to their promotion ambitions and set them up nicely to gain ground at the expense of those teams around them in the table later.

FC Ryukyu: Fresh off a 3-0 road victory over Omiya, FC Ryukyu will look to continue their momentum against 6th place Ventforet Kofu. In their previous 3 meetings with Kofu, FC Ryukyu have suffered three defeats while being outscored 9-3. While FC Ryukyu have got back to winning ways of late, 3 wins in their last 4 matches, Kofu will be a stiff test on a short week with a lot of travel mixed in for FC Ryukyu.

Abe continues his march to the J2 Golden boot with a pair of goals this past round brining his season total to 13. Good enough for 3rd overall and 6 behind leader Peter Utaka of Kyoto Sanga FC. Abe has been a rock for Ryukyu this season as he has featured in 28 out of the 30 games the club has played this year. He rarely seems to tire and continues to display his ability to create time and space for shots.

Koya Kazama also seems to be in good form by following up his goal against Kyoto Sanga FC with 2 assists against Omiya. Both Koya and Abe will need to be on point this week as Ryukyu have always had a difficult time penetrating the Kofu back line.

Outside of our top two scorers Abe and Koya, FC Ryukyu will need to energize the remaining mid-filed combinations of Ikeda, Kawai, Koizumi and Motegi. In the case of Motegi, he has yet to score or provide an assist, since his return from COVID-19. I hope he is no longer experiencing the effects of the disease but he has been used primarily as a substitute since his return in September. He could provide a much needed boost to the attack if/when he gets back to his pre-CV19 form.

Last week’s paring of Yong Jick and Suzuki at CB worked well enough to shut down the Omiya attack though Omiya was able to get several dangerous shots off through the middle of the defense last week. It was only due to the excellent play of Dany Carvajal that none of those shots found the back of the net.

Finally, Keita Tanaka was able to return to the bench this round as an unused substitute and in his place, Makito Uehara scored his first ever goal for the club. As I’ve said on several occasions, he is a raw talent that needs match experience and coaching in order to develop into a top player for this club. Personally, I feel he is better suited at CDM than RB with his size/speed combination.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

Let’s state the obvious first.

-Kofu’s strengths, both in the attack and defense, line up well with the weaknesses of FC Ryukyu.

1. Have some early Success. Likelihood 3. While a goal or two would be nice, success could come in the form of creating quality chances, challenging the Kofu goalie with well aimed shots, or stifling the Kofu attack. We’ve seen what happens to the Ryukyu attack if it cannot find any shooting lanes or generate any real pressure and momentum early. It simply stalls out. This maybe the only time that I advocate trying some shots from distance as Kofu can defend decently in and around their box. And no, I am not talking about the Yong Jick postage stamp shot from 50 yards out.

2. Ruffle the Feathers of Kofu. Likelihood 2. As far as I could tell in their highlights, Kofu plays with much more visible emotion than most sides. This could work in favor of Ryukyu if they are able to take advantage of any misfires and mistakes from Kofu. Remember, Kofu is in the midst of a promotion push whereas Ryukyu have nothing but pride left to play for in 2020. Though I wish the roles were reversed, it is what it is at this point. The easiest thing to do is to frustrate a side, who is under massive pressure to win, by getting under their skin. I’d deploy Chinen or Suzuki in place of Yong Jick to mark Dudu, and while not aiming to hurt the player, put in a few hard fouls to get him off his game. Even a Tanaka “professional foul” would work as Dudu seems like a player to react and lash out to that type of treatment. You could always swap out a defender later at the expense of disrupting the engine of the Kofu attack by getting him off his game.

3. Catch Kofu Napping. Likelihood 4. Kofu are one of those sides that seem to play down or up to the level of their competition. The most recent loss to Gunma indicates as much. FC Ryukyu must be clinical on whatever opportunities are afforded to them on Wednesday as this could force Kofu’s hand to press for the equalizer or winner late on and really open things up.

4. Score from Dead Ball Set Pieces. Likelihood 2. Kofu are very adept at seeing out low scoring affairs since they’ve only scored more than 2 goals this season on 4 occasions and yet sit 6^th in the table. This game could very well be decided by a set piece and hopefully FC Ryukyu can convert one or two of them for goals.

Match Day 31 Prediction

There are a handful of teams in J2 that always seem to have FC Ryukyu’s number. In the 3 meetings with Kofu; FC Ryukyu surrendered a 2 goal lead for a 5-2 loss; closed out 2019 with a less than full squad resulting in a 2-0 loss; and scored their only goal against Kofu this year from the penalty spot. It’s hard to see FC Ryukyu getting over their woes against Kofu this year and this one is likely to end 2-0 in favor of the hosts.

Round 31 in J2

Tokushima Vortis hosting Jubilo highlights this round and it will also be the free YouTube broadcast on the J-League International YouTube channel.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsqUUwnU0c0

Conclusion

There can be no doubt that Kofu are a stronger side compared to FC Ryukyu as their record and place in the table highlight that very point. When facing a strong side on the road, after a rigorous season filled with ridiculous amounts of travel in very short succession, the match is no longer a test of strength, but rather a test of wits.

So, how can FC Ryukyu overcome some of the issues that have tormented them in their previous three games against Kofu and achieve their first every victory over their opponent? Well for that, I’ll reference the Cooper Color Code of the Combat Mindset.

Source: https://kravmagamindset.wordpress.com/2018/05/30/coopers-color-code-and-the-combat-mindset/#:~:text=Cooper’s%20original%20code%20consisted%20of,to%20include%20Gray%20and%20Black.

Both Ryukyu and Kofu will start out in the YELLOW state at kickoff but Ryukyu need to propel Kofu into the RED and then BLACK categories, skipping over ORANGE quickly, by thwarting Kofu’s attack and agitating some of their more emotional players. Think stuff like this doesn’t occur in sports? Just think about how well Diego Costa would frustrate many of the Arsenal players during his time at Chelsea. It emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, and is an area I think Ryukyu could exploit.

As I stated earlier, Kofu have it all to lose while FC Ryukyu do not have nearly as much at stake on Wednesday night. It is time that we play some “Head Games” with Kofu instead of trying to match them strength for strength.

Come on Boys!

“Best of Both Worlds” Match Day 30 Preview: (16) Omiya Ardija vs. (18) FC Ryukyu 11/1/20 #FC琉球

Intro

It has been a while my friends. I’ve been heavily engrossed in the American NFL season, more importantly, the NFL Fantasy Football season, which as you may not know is one of my favorite hobbies. The last time we spoke FC Ryukyu were 18^th in the table, results were a mixed bag, and the fixtures came thick and fast. “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” FC Ryukyu are still 18^th after some surprising results -both good and bad – and with only 13 fixtures remaining, what else should we expect as we bring a close to the 2020 season for FC Ryukyu?

Both of these teams………………………………….

Match Day 29 Recap: FC Ryukyu vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. (2-1)

Match Day 29 Recap: Omiya Ardija vs V-Varen Nagasaki (0-0)

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: This season will always be one in which we are left wondering what could have been. We have so much talent but we can never seem to get in synch, or fire at the right time. We can play great and beat anybody, but can also suffer through uninspiring play and waning results.

FC Ryukyu are coming off a come from behind 2-1 win against Kyoto Sanga FC at home this past Sunday and will look to carry that momentum into this round against Omiya Ardija. FC Ryukyu have faired very well against Omiya the past two seasons with 2 wins over the hosts and plenty of goals scored. The last time these two sides met, FC Ryukyu demolished Omiya 5-0 at home.

FC Ryukyu have seen their fair share of injuries recently and despite losing the unanimous come back player of the year in Keita Tanaka, they have soldiered on with a very promising young prospect in Makito Uehara.

Koizumi continues to impress each week, though we have never been able to get Kawai firing this year which bodes well for his long term prospects of staying at FC Ryukyu in 2021, but is not so great for his overall development. Abe continues to show what a quality signing he has been as one of the league leaders in goals scored and yet, despite all the offensive successes, FC Ryukyu continue to remain unsettled at the back. Ryukyu have tried multitude of combinations and players in defense but large cracks still exist and is the one area that needs attention in the offseason.

Omiya Ardija: The fall season has not been kind to Omiya, who, were once sitting near the top of the table this past spring/summer. In fact, Omiya has gone winless all of October with only 3 wins in their past 15 games dating back to August. Much of this could be tied to the numerous injuries they are suffering through, but Omiya’s form and scoring have all dropped precipitously since the summer.

Omiya sit only six points above Ryukyu in the table in what has to be considered a lost season for a team always tipped for a promotion run. In my experience, when teams with nothing to play for, who are just looking to close out the season, they will simply lay down and die. FC Ryukyu pasted Omiya 5-0 the last time these two sides locked horns and FC Ryukyu have out scored Omiya 11 to 6 in the three games they’ve played and will look to continue that form this Sunday.

Key to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Get Abe going early. Likelihood 4. Abe is one of the leading goal scorers in J2 this year and his successes, and failures, are directly tied to the fortunes of this squad. Get him firing early, and often, and we have a good shot of earning another 3 points this weekend.

Match Day 30 Prediction

These two teams light up the score board every time the square off so I expect that to happen once again in spite of Omiya’s goal drought. 3-2 in favor of FC Ryukyu tomorrow.

Match Day 30 in J2

Those teams that are expected to get the job done, face many sides that will probably oblige them. So not much to rave about on MD 30.

And for all you international viewers, aren’t you lucky this round!

Conclusion

I am glad I could pop in a for a brief preview before turning my focus back to Fantasy Football as I have truly missed writing these entries each week. While Ryukyu face no threat of relegation, and no notion of promotion in 2020, it has been enjoyable watching some players develop in front of our eyes this year. Koizumi, Ikeda, and the younger Uehara are just a few. It is also great to see some veterans regain their top form with Tanaka making a transition to RB and Koya Kazama scoring at will. This has created a sense of hope for 2021, when results will really matter and each match will have a greater sense of urgency.

On that note, I have no idea how this season will end for FC Ryukyu, nor how 2021 will shape up with departures and new arrivals. Personally, Id like to see Shinji Ono transition out of his player role into that of manager. He has had a difficult time staying healthy during his time at Ryukyu, and though I hope he can end his career with at least 1 goal scored for the Bengara, I think we could leverage his name and relationships for future seasons once he has retired.

Well then, I have enjoyed this brief return to blogging for FC Ryukyu this weekend while enjoying my passion for Fantasy Football. For me, it has been ” the best of both worlds.” Enjoy this round and I’ll talk to you all soon.

Go on Lads!

“I need You, You, You” Match Day 20 Preview and Match Day 19 Recap #FC琉球

Intro

I will be taking this blog in a different direction over the next few months with the crammed J-League fixture schedule as I will no longer provide a bi-weekly entry, but instead a single entry comprising both a recap from the previous round, and a preview for their upcoming fixture.

This will mean that I’ll need to trim down on the amount of sections per respective entry so as to keep it manageable, and easily consumable for all of you. I hope you’ll continue your patronship of this blog and feel free to provide any input on the new format in the comments section.

Match Day 19 Recap: FC Ryukyu
Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
Match Day 19 Takeaways
Match Day 19 Recap: Mito Hollyhock
Match Day 20 Team Previews & Injury Reports
Keys to Victory
Match Day 20 Prediction
Match Day 20 in J2 & Table
Conclusion

1. Match Day 19 Recap: FC Ryukyu

2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Whatever we did last week, let’s do it again! Likelihood 3. Didn’t happen as Kyoto had large spells of possession and dozens of shots.

2. Koizumi in the CAM Role. Likelihood 5. Did happen but he wasn’t able to unlock Kyoto’s defense and was ultimately substituted.

3. Match Day 19 Takeaways

1. FC Ryukyu were under siege the entire match against Kyoto. The overall box score indicates an near 3 to 1 domination from Kyoto in the shots, and shots on target category. Though the amount of possession for either side looks equal, it was Kyoto who was peppering Dany with shots all night.

2. There was some heroic defending on the part of FC Ryukyu against Kyoto. Fc Ryukyu managed to block many of the shots Kyoto took and Dany Carvajal played really well in net, where he was making save after save. Though this was a positive for FC Ryukyu, it could have been slightly reduced if some of the poor decision in the central parts of the pitch were avoided. This included, costly turnovers and wayward passes.

3. Ryukyu never really threatened the Kyoto net as the trend for an overall low number of total shots, and accurate shots, continues for the offense.

4. Match Day 19 Recap Mito Hollyhock

5. Match Day 20 Team Previews & Injury Reports

FC Ryukyu. That nice run of form FC Ryukyu experienced between the end of July and August has but been forgotten as Ryukyu have lost 5 out of their last 6 and while being outscored 9 to 12 during that span. The 5-0 drubbing of Omiya stands out as an anomaly between the defeats to Yamagata and Zelvia, which are only compounded by the 1 goal losses to Niigata, Kanazawa, and most recently Kyoto Sanga.

But hopefully things are picking up for the club as they have seen the return of several players from injury and suspension the past few rounds as they are desperate for healthy, fresh legs in all areas of the pitch.

FC Ryukyu have experimented with several combinations in both the attack and defense in an attempt to generate some sort of rhythm, but with so many fixtures and injuries, this seems to be an unrealistic goal for many clubs in 2020.

Abe has been superb up top and he is on the verge of cracking double-digit goals for the first time in over 5 seasons. Koizumi continues to show the J-League what an immense talent he is and I hope that he continues his career arc at FC Ryukyu for just a little longer. The right and left mid fielders seem to be on constant rotations and Ryukyu really only play well when Higuchi correctly starts those who have the “hot hand.”

In defense the picture is much bleaker. FC Ryukyu have never been known as superior defensive team and things have continually spiraled out of control this year with all the combinations Higuchi has introduced. With one exception that is. Tanaka has been a revelation at RB and there is no other player in the squad that can match his work rate, tenacity, and skill other than Abe.

Unfortunately, Yong Jick is not the answer at CB, Suzuki is prone to mistakes as a raw prospect, you know what Fukui will provide each week in the reserve role and Chinen needs more matches to get back to full fitness. Numata provides a nice element to the attack but is often seen out of position when closing down attackers and ceding too many dangerous crosses into the box.

This is the basic state of the team as we enter one of the busiest stretches of games for FC Ryukyu. But all is not doom and gloom. FC Ryukyu have several prospects worth monitoring with Uehara in particular offering some glimpses of the player he could be.

FC Ryukyu Injures & Suspensions. We are still awaiting the return of Shinji Ono and Koki Kazama, but we’ve added DF Suzuki to the injured list as he tore one of his abductor muscles in his leg.

Mito Hollyhock. Someone on Twitter this past weekend commented that Mito are strange side in that they are one of the league leaders in both goals scored, and goals surrendered. This should be a familiar notion to many of us Ryukyu fans as this was exactly who FC Ryukyu were from the 2016 to 2017 seasons. This is far different from the 2019 Mito side that was one of the best defensive units in the league.

Mito have only lost once over their last five games where they had an impressive victory over Tokushima Vortis on the road. Mito are loaded with goal scoring talent up top featuring Kashima Antler’s on loan Kazuma Yamaguchi who has scored 8 goals and provided 6 assists which must put him near the top of the league leaders in total points. Forward Masato Nakayama has contributed 6 goals and 2 assists to go along with Pitbull’s 5.

It must simply be a case of being so top heavy in the attack, that Mito fail to recover in time in defense. In any case, teams like this, despite impressive goals scored tally, always provide a bit of hope to their opponents as they are prone to conceding often with their current set up. However, FC Ryukyu are not as well equipped as Mito to get into a shootout with the visitors this weekend.

Mito Hollyhock Injuries & Suspensions. MF Yuichi Hirano injured his Right MCL and will miss this match.

6. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

Slow down the Mito attack. Likelihood 2. FC Ryukyu have been ceding massive amounts of shots the past few rounds while not really increasing their own shot totals. if they wish to earn a point from this round. They’ll need to blunt the Mito attack before it even gets going.
Take more shots. Likelihood 3. This may seem mundane but FC Ryukyu have seen quite a dip in their overall shots the past month. I am not suggesting they take some wasted long range efforts, but rather take more chances in and around the 18-yard box.

7. Match Day 20 Prediction

I think this will be a bit of shootout with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

8. Match Day 20 in J2 and Standings

Nothing really stands out except some interesting kickoff times this weekend.

9. Conclusion

It should be an exciting night for football here in Okinawa and I am looking forward to FC Ryukyu getting back to their winning ways. While I wouldn’t consider these teams to be evenly matched, both possess the ability to score goals and concede a fair amount which should make for an enticing match.

Enjoy the long weekend for those living in Japan and stay safe as there maybe some lightening here tonight in Okinawa during the game.

“Back in the Saddle Again” Match Day 19 Preview: (8) Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs. (18) FC Ryukyu 9/13/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Apologies for such a lengthy gap between entries as I was solely focused on preparing for the upcoming NFL fantasy football season and my attention was elsewhere. And thank you for sticking by, or returning, while I enjoyed my favorite hobby. But now it is back to business, and back to FC Ryukyu.

FC Ryukyy travel to Kyoto to take on a side that is looking to get back into the promotion race. Kyoto are a very strong side at home as they have yet to lose, and though anything is possible these days, I think Kyoto are pleased to welcome in FC Ryukyu with their recent road woes. Plus, we may see former FC Ryukyu star, Kazaki Nakagawa, plying his trade in the central mid-field for Kyoto. But do not fret, as we have our own special MF in Yoshio Koizumi.

Peter Utaka vs Takuma Abe? Yes please! The top scorers in J2 will be featured in this match which could turn into an exciting, fast paced, tilt.

Weather Forecast
Match Day 18 Recap: FC Ryukyu
Match Day 18 Recap: Kyoto Sanga FC
Team Previews & Injury Reports
Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
Match Day Prediction
Round 19 in J2
Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast

Overcast and possible rain.

2. Match Day 18 Recap: FC Ryukyu

3. Match Day 18 Recap: Kyoto Sanga FC

4. Team Previews & Injury Reports

Kyoto Sanga F.C. Streaky maybe the best way to describe Kyoto. Kyoto seems to be a squad that really plays down to the level of their competition instead of putting them to the sword with all the firepower they possess. In fact, Kyoto, just like FC Ryukyu, have only scored more than 2 goals in any match this season just once. But make no mistake, Kyoto are undefeated at home and FC Ryukyu have never beat Kyoto in any competition in their history.

Over their past 6 games, Kyoto have gone on to draw two, lose two, and win two in that exact order. The draws came against Niigata and Matsumoto, followed by two consecutive road losses at the hands of Verdy and Omiya. Kyoto have turned things back around by defeating JEF and Gunma in consecutive weeks and may possibly be breaking out of that aforementioned notion of playing down to their competition. Seeing how this is one is at home, Kyoto are heavy favorites in this game.

Kyoto Sanga F.C. Injuries & Suspensions. None are listed.

FC Ryukyu. A lot has happened since I last wrote about FC Ryukyu. They signed MF Mizuki Ichimaru on loan from Gamba Osaka; they had a 4 game losing streak; and most impressively, they scored 5 goals against Omiya Ardija this past Wednesday.

During that stretch of 4 consecutive losses, FC Ryukyu were playing some rather poor defense while having to deal with injuries and rest periods to their defensive corps. Uesato even started one match at CB and that did not end well for FC Ryukyu. But things have made a slight turn for the better after the Omiya victory as there were some notable players returning – or at the very least being seen back at training and with the reserves – returning to the lineup. And Koizumi and Kawai bagged their first goals of the season.

The players who returned were Motegi and Chinen with Shinji Ono training with the reserves after the match. I assume Koki Kazama is not far behind and these players returning could not have come at a better time for FC Ryukyu with this month’s fixtures.

Whereas FC Ryukyu were stretched thin at MF the past 2 months, the same could be said for their defense this month. Yong Jick sat out last week thanks in part to his Yellow Card accumulation and there was no sign of Suzukui on the bench. In fact, the only healthy defender FC Ryukyu dressed last week against Omiya was they younger Uehara.

On that note, the younger Uehara has been really impressive during his brief spells inside the FC Ryukyu lineup. He has another “gear” when it comes to closing down attackers and has been excellent in dispossessing them when he does get there. Once he learns how to take the proper angles to balls in flight as well as the opposing attackers, he could be a serious force to be reckoned with. For now, he is raw as raw can get and needs some fine tuning.

FC Ryukyu Injuries & Suspensions. Yong Jick maybe returning to the lineup after serving his suspension and it looks as if Koki Kazama may have suffered a set back in his return as his time line was updated on 8/8 for at least a 6-8 week wait for his return.

5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu.

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

Whatever we did last week, let’s do it again! Likelihood 3. FC Ryukyu only had a slight uptick in their total amount of shots on net from their previous matches, but they were far more clinical. In fact, that game could have ended 7-0 if not for a nice save and near miss. Play relaxed and create chances as Kyoto have shown they can be caught napping on lesser opponents from time to time.
Koizumi in the CAM Role. Likelihood 5. There should be no doubt that he is our most creative MF and he has the talent to unlock any team’s defense. He’s really coming on this year and is absolutely scintillating to watch.

6. Match Day Prediction

Despite the recent outburst last week against Omiya, I do not like FC Ryukyu’s chances this Sunday as Kyoto are a much stronger team at home where they average almost 2 goals scored at home every match. I have tipped FC Ryukyu to lose 3-1. But what do I know?

7. Round 19 in J2

The two that jump right out are (1) Kitakyushu hosting (5) Niigata and (2) Nagasaki hosting (6) Jubilo Iwata.

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.de/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

My, my, my. Aren’t all you international viewers lucky this week as there are two free matches for you to enjoy on the J-League International YouTube Channel.

8. Conclusion

Right, so after a lengthy delay, I am finally back and as always, I appreciate all of your support. Can Ryukyu get one over on a high priced team looking to get back into the promotion race and grab their first ever win in Kyoto? Can Kyoto’s players continue their strong form at home and see off a side who is struggling for form on the road? All good questions heading into Match Day 19 and I for one, am looking forward to getting “back in the saddle again.”